금요일주제 2013_11_29. 1) Learning Language Helps Prevent Dementia. 2) 2013's Per Captia Income and its Gap in Korea. 저녁 7시반 쏠크에서 즐겁고 유익한 대화!

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1. Learning Languages 'Helps Prevent Dementia

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/11/07/2013110701486.html

Learning more than two languages helps prevent dementia in old age, a study suggests. A team of researchers led by Subarna Alladi at the Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences in India looked at 648 dementia sufferers and found that those who spoke more than two languages ended up with dementia on average four years later than those who spoke just one.
The average age of the patients was 66. The findings were published in the journal Neurology on Wednesday.
Dementia is usually classified into three types: vascular dementia caused by blocked blood vessels, frontal or temporal dementia caused by loss of functions in those parts of the brain, and Alzheimer's disease caused by deteriorating nerves in the brain.
According to the researchers, learning foreign languages helped prevent all three types.
But that does not mean everyone needs to learn more than two languages. Knowing more languages did not lead to an additional drop in chances of suffering from dementia, according to the study. There was no difference between patients who spoke two languages and those who spoke more.
It also did not matter how fluent a patient was in his or her second language. As long as the patient was able to read it, the preventive effect was the same as knowing how to speak the language fluently or badly.
The team said learning languages helps prevent dementia because it stimulates a wider range of nerves in the brain.

1) How was your week? Tell us one thing that made you very happy this week.

2) Do you agree with the article's claim that "learning more than 2 languages....."? Why do you think so?

3) What and how well do you command languages other than Korean? How/why did you get that those languages?

4) Tell us your 'wish to learn foreign languages' and tell us why you want to learn them.

5) Other than learning foreign language, what other activities would you recommend to keep our brain smart?

2. This Year's Per Capita Income Reaches US$24,044, But the Gap Widens
http://english.khan.co.kr/khan_art_view.html?code=710100&artid=201311261713497&medid=enkh

This year, South Korea's per capita income is expected to record its highest ever. And it looks like the appreciation of the Korean won was the biggest cause. However, given the deteriorating distribution indices, the fruits of economic growth seem to lie in the baskets of the few wealthy, while ordinary citizens find it difficult to taste the sweet growth.
According to data from the Bank of Korea on November 25, the estimated per capita income (gross national income divided by the population) for this year is expected to reach US$24,044. This is a 5.9% increase from last year (US$22,700, 49th in the world). This figure was calculated after considering this year's gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 2.8%, the value of the dollar to the won at 1,095 won, and the population of 50,220,000.

In 2007, the per capita income reached US$21,632, opening the age of the $20,000+ income, but due to the global financial crisis in 2008-2009, income levels fell below $20,000. Income levels once again surpassed $20,000 in 2010, but remained flat at $22,000 in 2011-2012.
The per capita income showed a relatively large growth this year partially because of the economic recovery with the economic growth rate expected at 2.8%, but the main reason seems to be the appreciation of the won due to changes in the exchange rate. The value of the dollar to the won fell from 1,102 won last year to 1,095 won this October, which in turn raised the gross national income, calculated in US dollars. The population also increased by only 0.43% compared to last year, helping boost the per capita income.
The increase in per capita income does not mean that all citizens will enjoy the benefits. According to the income distribution by quintile released by the National Statistics Office, as of September 2012, the disposable income of the high-income group (fifth quintile) was 5.05 times that of the low-income group (first quintile), which is an increase from 4.98 times last year. While household debt owned by the fifth quintile decreased from the previous year to 137 million won at the end of March, it increased by 24.6% to 12 million won in the first quintile. Per capita income is increasing, but the gap between the rich and the poor is widening, stopping the benefits from flowing equally to citizens in all quintiles.
Experts say that the growth potential has fallen and the rate of development in the service industry has also slowed down. Throw in an aging society and the increase in income will also slow down. It is likely that the time when South Korea enters the age of the US$30,000+ income will be delayed considerably. It took Japan 5 years to surpass $30,000 (1992) after surpassing $20,000 (1987), and 3 years to surpass $40,000 (1995).

1) Do you find any statistics in the article that are inconsistent with your expectation? Why so?

2) Do you think the economy of Korea will catch up that of Japan in near future? Why do you think so?

3) Why do you think the gap between haves have-nots in Korea is getting wider? How do you think we can solve this issue (if we have to solve it)?

4) Do you have your own general guildeline to keep your financitial status good? If you have, tell us it. If you don't, let's improvise it and share.

5) Look back your "New year resolution for the year 2013", have you accomplished a lot so far? Assuming you have not achieved all of them, what would be your presonal top priority in December?

6) What is your great plan for this weekends?

[Eileen연주]

토픽 감사드립니당~ 1번은 입 좀 뗄 수 있을 것 같고 2번은 참하게 있다 올게요. 느낌 아니까ㅎㅎ

[Tristan(혁수)]

저도 간만에 참석해서 1번 2번 모두 조신하게 앉아있다가 오겠습니다. 느낌 알지~ ㅋㅋ

[Harry(해인)]

조신모드.....싫어요 ㅋㅋㅋ

[Damon 형석]

조신모드에 나도 동참^^

[Sophie.지영]

저도 조신모드로..오랫만에 참석하려고했으나...다음에 봐요

[Kelly(현희)]

I'm in 86%~~^^

[minky(민기)]

참석합니다앙~~*

[kuma.두홍]

조신모드가 대세인감?? ㅎㅎㅎ 좋은 타픽 감사합니다~ 맥스형님!!!

[Eileen연주]

다들 저보다 잘 하시는 분들이 조신모드로 있으면 저는 입도 못떼는거 아닐지..ㅎㅎㅎ

[jennet.지연]

항상 그랬듯 조신하게 참석합니당^^

[Kelly(현희)]

항상 그랬듯? 왠지 어감이~~~ㅋㅋ

[shiny.정임]

늦참합니다^^

[철없는Cathy(경희)]

참석해 보도록 할께요....

[Eugene성훈]

잠시 2차에 눈도장 찍으러 가겠습니다 If there's one.^^

[max_철수]

참석이 어렵네요....

[Paul - 대성]

2 round 참석 어디로 갈께에요 9닭 공사중 입니다

[MJ민정]

지참합니다~ 가는 길이에요^^